Steve L

Hey, I'm a container grower as well. Most of my heliconia are grown in containers and a few tender gingers as well. Our soil is perfect, rich and on the acid side. The problem is a few weeks during the late weeks of Dec., Jan. and Feb when we can, and often do, get a Canadian blast of cold air. Those fronts kill the old growth on the heliconias. Most times, the plants grow back from the roots starting in the spring but since most heliconia bloom on old (second year) growth, the blooms are lost. So into the greenhouse they go for the winter to be fair game for spider mites and mealy bugs. It can get frustrating. But also often during the winter are numerous days when the night time temps are in the 50's and our days are in the low
70's so out the containers go to soak up some nice fresh air. I still have Rostrata, Golden Torch, Hirsuta, and Latispatha Distans blooming. Red Angusta is just starting to show blooms and I have two pots of Alpinia Purpurata in bloom. This has been an especially good year for my tropicals. We had a mild winter last year and everything got off to a quick start in the spring.

Steve